LifeGroup Notes

BIG IDEA
As we see throughout history, God continually reveals Himself and His truth through all avenues.In 1985, a secular band, Tears for Fears, released a song, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The closing chorus states:

All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

In this song, the artists bring to light the tendencies of our human nature and our natural desire to have control and power, no matter what it takes or what is at stake. While this is from a secular band regarding the state of the world at the time, we find in it one of God’s truths - on our own, we are sinful and selfish, doing things for our own benefit.
In our study this week, we will look at what true Biblical leadership is and what is required of us if we want to lead as Jesus led.

Passages we’ll review:
1 Peter 3:13-17; Psalm 34:11-22

OPENING
What stood out to you from the message this week? What led you to really think? Did anything challenge you? Have you ever had to share something that you really loved, something that had immense value to you?

Have you ever been asked (or “voluntold”) to do something you really didn’t want to do? How did you respond?

READ

Read Matthew 20:25-28

The mother of James and John had approached Jesus. She asked that her two sons would be able to sit with Jesus in His kingdom, one on His right and the other on His left. In hearing this discussion, the other disciples became disgruntled at her request. That’s when Jesus responded with the profound, paradoxical truth in verses 26-28.

How did Jesus define leadership to the disciples?

In this passage, Jesus revealed His mission to His followers. What was that mission?

We must not follow the example of leadership that the world teaches. As servants of Christ, we must function differently. Jesus came as a servant, and as His followers, we must follow His example.—Editor’s Note

What do you find most difficult in what Jesus told His disciples in verses 26-28?

What opportunities do you have to serve others as Christ taught?

“True gospel-humility means I stop connecting every experience, every conversation, with myself. In fact, I stop thinking about myself.” (Tim Keller)—Editor’s Note

Read 1 Peter 5:5, 8-11

Warren Wiersbe writes, “Humility is not demeaning ourselves and thinking poorly of ourselves. It is simply not thinking of ourselves at all.” How does God show favor to the humble? What are some instances in the Bible where God showed favor to the humble over the proud?

In verse 8, Peter gives us a dire warning. What does he tell us regarding Satan?

Two dangerous responses to the devil and his activity are to over-emphasize his activity and to ignore his activity. When we overemphasize it, we lose focus. Instead of keeping our eyes on God and His plan, we become scared or overwhelmed by the reality of supernatural evil. When we ignore his activity, we forget that there is indeed a spiritual side to the world we live in, and we give him the opportunity to attack us while we are unprepared. —Editor’s Note

Verse 9 gives us the proper response to the devil. What does it look like to resist him? What tools can we use to help us?

In verses 10 and 11, Peter focuses on God’s ability instead of our own. Why is this significant?

What will God do for us? How can this strengthen us when we find ourselves in situations of suffering?

DIGGING DEEPER

Read Romans 12:1-2

Worship has always been accompanied by sacrifice, only the sacrifice itself has changed. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice for us, we no longer have to make Old Testament sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. In response to what Christ did on our behalf, we now offer up ourselves as a sacrifice of praise!

Our sacrifice is a living sacrifice, exhibited by the way we live our lives. What does that look like in “real life?”

Chuck Swindoll once wrote: “The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar.” How does the world try to influence and pull us away from God’s will?

Everyone who chooses to follow Christ shares one overriding characteristic, our unwillingness to conform to the pattern of this world. However, our goal shouldn’t just be non-conformity, but transformation! —Editor’s Note

How does a transformed life differ from a conformed life?

Oswald Chambers says, “We have the idea that we can dedicate our gifts to God. However, you cannot dedicate what is not yours. There is actually only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is your right to yourself. If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you - and His experiments always succeed. The one true mark of a saint of God is the inner creativity that flows from being totally surrendered to Jesus Christ.”
—Editor’s Note

LET’S PRAY
Consider the following as you pray together:

1. Warren Wiersbe wrote: “It is not enough for us to understand Paul’s doctrinal explanations. We must translate our learning into living and show by our daily lives that we trust God’s word.” Knowing this, how can you respond differently to the enemy’s attacks in order to be more alert and resist his advances?
   

2. Are you willing to offer yourself as a “living sacrifice?” Is there anything you are struggling with or unwilling to give up? Take time to pray, asking God to help you to surrender those things to Him as you grow in Christ and allow Him to transform you.
   

3. Worship, or worth-ship, is the act of giving worth to someone or something. How does this definition challenge your view of worship? What can you do this week to live in a way that worships Him, bringing glory to Him alone, as you offer up a sacrifice of praise to Him?